theceomagazine.com | 127T
aking a deep breath, I slowly ease myself down, one foot
after the other, sweaty palms clenching tightly onto the
wooden rungs of the ladder. There’s some commotion
going on beneath me and I hesitantly peer back over my
sun-freckled shoulder to see, careful not to lose my white-knuckle
grip. It’s a long way down, after all.
I just miss the action. My travel companion has cannonballed
off the wooden platform metres below me into a large, turquoise
body of water, resurfacing with an ear-to-ear grin, droplets of
water trickling down his face. I’m probably only 10 or so steps
away from joining the fun. But I’m stuck, halfway down this
incredibly steep ladder with only two ways to go – back up or
down. I try to take in my surroundings as I calm my breath,
building up the courage to continue.
I’m at To Sua Ocean Trench – an iconic swimming spot on
Samoa’s main island, Upolo. It’s a sinkhole that was formed by an
ancient lava eruption and it’s the perfect spot to cool off from the
island’s tropical clime. The deep crater is half-full, the sea water
entering from the ocean through a series of underground canals
and tunnels. The water, unbelievably clear, is surrounded by dark
caves and crevices and grey–brown earthen walls. There’s a draping
of lush vegetation that tumbles down as an extension to the green
grass on ground level above. It’s one of those picturesque spots
that’s always on social media, featuring as a must-visit, bucket-list
location. Well, I’m here, but at this point I don’t know if I’ll make it
out alive.
Precariously, I inch myself down a little further, one shaky foot
after the other until it navigates the next rung ... and just a teensy
bit further. Soon enough I’ve made it onto the timber platform,
giving me unbridled access to the expanse of cool water into which
I clumsily dive. »WELCOME TO SAMOA – A
TROPICAL PARADISE WITH
PRISTINE BEACHES, AN
ABUNDANCE OF CULTURE,
AND A HINT OF ADVENTURE.
WORDS SKYE HOKLAS • IMAGES SEABREEZE RESORTPacific rejuvenation | INDULGE